Tennis Honors: Roger Federer

Setting the stage: A history of Roger Federer’s feats at London’s O2 Arena

Among his sterling career milestones, the ATP Tour’s longtime standard-bearer reclaimed the year-end No. 1 ranking and clinched two of his record six season-ending titles under the famous dome.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Sep 15, 2022

FLASHBACK: Tennis Channel celebrates Roger Federer on the court, through the ages

Advertising

From his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, to his final farewell to professional tennis at The O2, some of Roger Federer’s biggest career moments have taken place on British soil.

With the 20-time Grand Slam champion announcing that Laver Cup was to be his final ATP event, Federer signaled that the last chapter in a sterling 24-year career would take place in London. It’s a fitting way to celebrate one of the game’s greatest champions, as Federer will reunite with his Big 4 rivals—Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic—for one last go at the exhibition tournament that he helped to create.

Not only that, but the venue will have some great significance for Federer, too. The ATP Tour’s longtime standard-bearer clinched two of his record six year-end championships titles in London during 2010-11 under the dome of the world's busiest music arena.

“The O2 is magic, the darkness in the room and making it all about the players,” Federer said of playing in the iconic venue. “The atmosphere and energy was something else...

“I also remember that scene when James Bond falls on the roof [in the film ‘The World Is Not Enough’], so it’s always been a very iconic stadium.”

In honor of Federer’s retirement at The O2, here are some of his best moments in London from ATP Finals and beyond:

2009—Federer reclaimed the ATP’s year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time in his career, with a victory over Andy Murray at the first edition of the ATP Finals in London.

2010—Federer won his fifth ATP Finals crown at the expense of just one set, after winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 against Nadal in the final.

Advertising

2011—Federer makes a statement by winning the ATP Finals as a 30-year-old, a run that included a 6-3, 6-0 stunner over Nadal in the group stage.

Roger Federer is 30-12 in matches played at The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome), including a 12-match winning streak between 2010 and 2012.

Federer would go on to reach three more year-end finals in London in 2012, 2014 and 2015, each time falling to Djokovic.

Advertising

2014—Due to a back injury, Federer had to withdraw from the championship match and handed Djokovic the only final walkover in ATP Finals history.

A world away from Wimbledon: at the ATP Finals, players staying in the heart of London often commuted to The O2 via ferry, like Federer here in 2014...

... while in 2018 they ventured underground: to the London Underground, that is, with Federer leading the gang down the Jubilee line for the official launch party.

Advertising

2019—Federer's most recent appearance at the ATP Finals—and The O2—came in 2019, when the reigning Wimbledon champion lost to tournament debutant Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals.

Advertising

Baseline